Box-Behnken study design for optimization of bicalutamide-loaded nanostructured lipid carrier: stability assessment.

Bicalutamide (BCM) is an anti-androgen drug used to treat prostate cancer. In this study, nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) were chosen as a carrier for delivery of BCM using Box-Behnken (BB) design for optimizing various quality attributes such as particle size and entrapment efficiency which is very critical for efficient drug delivery and high therapeutic efficacy. Stability of formulated NLCs was assessed with respect to storage stability, pH stability, hemolysis, protein stability, serum protein stability and accelerated stability. Hot high-pressure homogenizer was utilized for formulation of BCM-loaded NLCs. In BB response surface methodology, total lipid, % liquid lipid and % soya lecithin was selected as independent variable and particle size and %EE as dependent variables. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was done for morphological study of NLCs. Differential scanning calorimeter and X-ray diffraction study were used to study crystalline and amorphous behavior. Analysis of design space showed that process was robust with the particle size less than 200 nm and EE up to 78%. Results of stability studies showed stability of carrier in various storage conditions and in different pH condition. From all the above study, it can be concluded that NLCs may be suitable carrier for the delivery of BCM with respect to stability and quality attributes.

Intranasal Delivery of Nanotherapeutics/ Nanobiotherapeutics for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease: A Proficient Approach.

Therapeutics and biotherapeutics-based fabrication of nanoparticles has fascinated scientists since the past two decades and exciting challenges have been surmounted. Particular interest has been paid to the exploitation of functionalized nanocarriers in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) using nasal route. Development of various material-based nanocarriers is a common approach to obtain advanced drug delivery systems possessing the ability to follow intranasal (IN) route for brain targeting, which would ultimately ameliorate the effect of AD. This review highlights the various pathological theories for AD along with their controversies. This work intends to provide a thorough, up-to-date, and holistic discussion on various pathways for nose-to-brain delivery and different formulation factors impacting on nasal absorption. The various material properties and their engineered nanocarriers as a smart delivery system, including synergistic effect of therapeutic/biotherapeutic agent in IN delivery as well as in AD therapy have been discussed. This review also emphasizes toxicity, especially neurotoxicity concerns pertaining to drug delivery systems.

Polymeric Immunonanoparticles Mediated Cancer Therapy: Versatile Nanocarriers for Cell-Specific Cargo Delivery.

The major drawback with conventional therapeutic approaches for cancer therapy is decreased efficacy and redundant therapy associated toxicity and side effects causing increased patient discomfort. With the aim of minimizing these limitations, a vast amount of attention has been given to targeted nanocarrier-based drug delivery systems that possess a several-fold advantage over conventional therapy. Increased research in targeted nanoparticulate systems has led to the development of immunonanoparticles with enhanced efficacy and targeting efficiency along with decreased drug-resistant cancer- and dose-related toxicity. These immunonanoparticle- based therapies, which can be extended to immunotherapy, have gained wide attention, but few formulations will be approved by regulatory agencies in the near future. This review details the various immunonanoparticle systems explored in cancer therapy, with particular emphasis on polymeric nanoparticles. This review describes the mechanisms of immunotherapy and the pathways for targeting dendritic cells for immunotherapy. It also focuses on present status of clinical trials of immunonanoparticles and related patents, as well as various FDA-approved monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for immunotherapy. Toxicity issues related to immunonanoparticles along with regulatory guidelines for these therapeutic nanoparticles are also discussed.